Faisal Al Yafai

Established norms, such as diplomatic protocols or even law and order, can seem like old-fashioned conservative notions – until they are gone, writes Faisal Al Yafai.

There are important parallels between the angry men of America and the angry Sunnis of the Arab world, writes Faisal Al Yafai

Donald Trump’s election is only the latest manifestation of a much deeper trend, one that western democracies are simply ill-equipped to tackle, writes Faisal Al Yafai

America's political class spent too much time listening to Donald Trump and not enough time listening to those who would vote for him, writes Faisal Al Yafai

The Lebanese president will find his biggest challenges are not in Damascus or Tel Aviv, but in Beirut, writes Faisal Al Yafai

The reckless plan to topple Gamal Abdel Nasser could have been a turning point in America's relationship with the Middle East – but neither Europe nor Nasser would allow it, writes Faisal Al Yafai

The new law is not about religion, writes Faisal Al Yafai – it's about the identity of modern Iraq

Taking Mosul back from ISIL will be hard, writes Faisal Al Yafai – but winning the peace will be harder still

The country is sleepwalking towards secession – with disastrous results for Iran, the Houthis and Ali Abdullah Saleh, writes Faisal Al Yafai

Writers should be free to inhabit any character, but they cannot expect their work to be read outside of the prevailing power structures - especially in the region

After a deadly strike on an aid convoy, it suits the regime in Damascus to pretend it cannot be reined in – and it suits Russia as well, writes Faisal Al Yafai

Ankara will do anything to stop a Kurdish state on its borders – even if it means making peace with Bashar Al Assad, writes Faisal Al Yafai

Last week, Faisal Al Yafai argued the ban was sexist and discriminatory. Here, he presents the best argument in favour of banning the burqini

France has just gifted ISIL a powerful recruiting tool, writes Faisal Al Yafai

The jihadists of ISIL have a clear political project. But the scale of it is so big, few can even imagine it, writes Faisal Al Yafai